Who is Tom Kerridge, how much weight did the TV chef lose and where is his pub The Hand and Flowers?

TOM Kerridge is an English chef who's best known for his world class British, French and fusion dishes.

The culinary ace is also the author of Lose Weight for Good: Full-flavour cooking for a low-calorie diet – which he has adapted into a show for BBC Two. But, what else do we know about the famous kitchen star?

Tom Kerridge was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 27 July 1973 – that makes him 44.

He was originally a child actor, but decided to attend culinary school at the age of 18. He has since worked in several high-end restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Rhodes in the Square and Adlards.

As a chef he has appeared on the Great British Menu, MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen.

He currently presents Food and Drink and presented Bake Off: Crème de la Crème (2016), both for BBC Two.

Tom is married to Beth, a sculptor who has previously worked with abstract sculptor Sir Anthony Caro.

Tom lost an incredible 12 stone thanks to a healthier lifestyle.

He devised his own diet after realising he was obese when he weighed in at almost 30 stone.

Tom now weighs just under 18 stone and previously opened up about how ditching sugar was "absolutely horrible".

In order to drop the pounds, the celeb chef cut down his carb intake and stopped drinking alcohol entirely.

He said: "In our business it becomes an obsession to party, play hard, drink hard, eat rubbish food.

"You start drinking after the last bill’s been paid and then it will go right through until two or three in the morning.

"It’s a release from the pressures of working hard. But there’s a point where you get fed up. You think, 'I’ve got to make a change'."

Tom and his wife opened gastropub The Hand & Flowers in 2005. Within a year, he gained his first Michelin star.

In the 2012 Michelin guide, he won a second Michelin star – the first time a pub had done so.

The pub is located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and the address is: 126 West St, Marlow, SL7 2BP.

Tom said: "When we opened The Hand and Flowers in 2005, we wanted it to be exactly the kind of place where we would like to enjoy our days off. That meant a proper pub, but with proper food.

"A friendly, comfortable atmosphere, where everybody’s welcome. Bold, unpretentious cooking with brilliant, seasonal ingredients. Professional but approachable service from people who love to eat out as much as we do."

He added: "Since opening, our approach has won us many loyal friends. We’re proud to be the first pub with two Michelin stars, but our food is for everyone to enjoy, and our pub is still a relaxed and accessible environment where everybody's welcome."

The pub's menu includes starters such as Duck Liver Parfait with Orange Chutney and Toasted Brioche, Glazed Omelette of Smoked Haddock and Parmesan.

Lose Weight For Good sees 13 volunteers from Tom's local area test his recipes in conjunction with NHS-approved weight loss advice. The dieters on the 12-week weight loss programme include a vicar, a police officer and a nurse who is getting married later in the year.

Tom said: “It’s impossible to lose weight and keep the weight off for good if you don’t enjoy what you’re eating.

"The NHS offers really sound advice about how to lose weight so I’ve taken this as the starting point and decided to challenge myself as a chef to come up with really appealing lower calorie dishes people will want to eat every day.

"The cooking techniques mean there’s no compromise on flavour and you’re promised a generous plate of food!

"I’m hoping this will help more people to lose weight and still love what they eat. They’ve all got strong reasons why they want or need to lose weight.

"So they’ve agreed to cut down their calorie intake, and in return I’m providing them with recipes they can make and enjoy at home. We’ll have to see how well they get on.”

Tom Kerridge: Lose Weight For Good is scheduled for broadcast in early 2018 on BBC Two.